A short excursion into Fisheating Creek on troubled Lake Okeechobee.

Paddling to the lake’s only free flowing tributary

and surveying the blue-green algae bloom!

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The once unbounded Lake Okeechobee has been completely contained by the Herbert Hoover Dike since 1930’s except for one remaining free flowing tributary on the west side called Fisheating Creek. This gap is paralleled by the dike on both sides for several miles, effectively creating a conduit or spillway in the process.

Today this is called the Fisheating Creek WMA. The river itself is the second largest natural source of water for Lake Okeechobee (after the recently “restored” Kissimmee River), and supplies about 9% of the water flowing in! Much of the creek and surrounding lands had been in the private hands of the Lykes family for many decades. Even though on private land, the creek was enjoyed and loved by generations of local residents until the late 1980’s when Lykes restricted and closed off access. This sparked a series of lawsuits which established that the creek was indeed a navigable waterway and finally an agreement was reached which resulted in the creation of the wildlife management area. However, controversy continues almost up to the present, although public access is now assured!

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This story took place in the circled area along Fisheating Bay and Creek on the west side of Lake Okeechobee.

Satellite view of Fisheating Creek as it empties into Fisheating Bay and Lake Okeechobee.Note direct boat ramp access point on Hwy 78!

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On this trip, we would see the creek from the other side – as it flows out into Fisheating Bay and Lake Okeechobee. The lake itself has been in the news all summer due to an unusually large blue-green algae bloom that at one point covered more than 90% of the surface! The incredible growth is not the first time this has happened and surely will not be the last. It’s a direct result of excess nutrients in the water, namely phosphorus laden water. The fertilizer rich water makes vegetation grow abundantly, including the algae. Although there are many sources of pollution draining into the lake, a large percentage of the phosphorus laden water comes off the huge agricultural sugarcane fields to the south when it’s back-pumped into the lake. See – “Phosphorus Loading by Land Use – What FDEP Isn’t Telling Us!” Gary Goforth, PhD. By the end of June almost the entire lake was covered!

Although the algae has since shrunk significantly, it continues to be a problem for the lake and all down stream freshwater bodies on both sides of Florida’s coast. Near the end of August, the conditions appeared good for paddling, although it is difficult to find real time data on the algal blooms. It’s one of those “you won’t really know what it looks like until you get there” kinda things!

I’m happy to report that while there was some algal growth in the canal we launched into, the open lake area and Fisheating Creek looked clean and clear for the most part. We paddled south on the canal for a bit until breaking out into Fisheating Bay and making our way towards the creek. It quickly became apparent that the overly nutrient-rich water fosters well the growth of three main plants:

Sawgrass, Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce!

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Aerial photo shared on faceBook at the beginning of the summer of 2016 shows significant algal growth over Lake Okeechobee.The summer of 2018 was even worse with more than 90% of the lake covered at one point!

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The image above is from several thousand feet in the air.

The image below is from the seat of my kayak, yet the patterns look exactly the same!

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Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in the canal where we launched on Lake Okeechobee.We joked about whether or not it might glow in the dark?!

Fisheating Creek snakes through a dry landscape just before emptying out into Lake Ockeechobee to the east!Fisheating Creek WMA

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In the dry season the creek can get very skinny.Fisheating Creek WMA

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Fisheating Creek is the last free flowing tributary to Lake Okeechobee, seen here in the dry season!Fisheating Creek WMA

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Just to the west of Lake Okeechobee is it’s only remaining free flowing tributary – Fisheating Creek!CLICK for: Hiking the Fisheating Creek WMA in the dry season!

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Lakeport is in a rural area that seems worlds apart from the hustle and bustle of South Florida. The drive up is a refreshing change of pace and I love to see all the open spaces presented! Since I grew up in a small town, I always feel a connection even if in a different part of the world. Rural life is much the same, no matter where you are!

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Lakeport, Florida is a small community on the shores of Lake Okeechobee.If you come to paddle, you best be prepared! 😮

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Afternoon thunderstorm over Lake Okeechobee behind the grassy moat that is the Hoover Dike!

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Better to be driving than paddling through a squall or storm!

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A few miles later and it’s nice and sunny again – c’est la vie Florida!! 🙂

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